Allergic

Claire and Maggie become friends quickly. Examine their friendship. How does each girl act as a good friend to the other? In what ways does each girl fail the other? What lessons do they learn about friendship along the way?

Analyze the author’s choice to make this a graphic novel. How does this style affect the book? What are the benefits and drawbacks of this mode of storytelling? How would the story differ if it weren’t in this format?

Examine Maggie’s feelings within her family. What causes her distress about her family? What does she want the most? Are her concerns reasonable based on the behavior of her family members?

Consider how different people react to Maggie’s allergies. What limits do they impose on her and others? Who blames her and who doesn’t? What does this convey about the different characters?

Explore the role of change in the novel. What is Maggie’s attitude about change at the beginning? How does she grow because of the changes she experiences? How does her opinion about change itself change?

Many graphic novels are available for middle-grade readers. Choose a different graphic novel and then compare it with this one. How are they similar and different?

Compare Maggie and Claire’s home situation. How does each girl feel about her home life? How do they feel about each other’s home life?

Consider the role of caretaking in the novel. Who cares for whom? What are the different manners in which people soothe and care for others?